Ohsumi

NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1970-011A

Description

The Ohsumi satellite was a small observatory carrying five experiments designed to make ionospheric observations of temperature and density, measurements of solar emission, and measurements of energetic particles. A 500-km circular orbit was intended, but an elliptical orbit was achieved. The satellite was a regular 26-sided polygonal prism with a circumscribed radius of 75 cm. The batteries were powered by 5184 solar cells mounted on the satellite body. Average power consumption was 10.3 W. Ohsumi was launched on a Japanese Lambda 4-S booster, making Japan the fourth country to launch a satellite into orbit on its own rocket. A further description can be found in the Japan National Report to COSPAR, 1969.